American Government › Section A · Government and civic engagement › Topic A.3
Engagement in a democracy
A representative democracy only works when citizens tell their representatives what they want and hold them to account. Who takes part, how, and why some people stay away are central questions for anyone who wants government to listen.
In this topic
- Why participation matters
- Is engagement declining?
- Critics and newer evidence
- Engagement that changed the Constitution
- Pathways: acting as an individual
- Pathways: acting with others
- Worked example: getting a crosswalk built
- Who takes part?
- Why some people stay away
- Worked example: reading turnout data
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
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